8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 8: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Letters of Credit

Certain customers could require us to issue standby letters of credit in the normal course of business to ensure performance under terms of contracts or as a form of product warranty. The beneficiary of a letter of credit could demand payment from the issuing bank for the amount of the outstanding letter of credit. We had no outstanding letters of credit at March 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

Employment Agreement

Our Chief Executive Officer is employed under an employment agreement containing severance provisions. In the event of termination of the CEO’s employment for any reason, the CEO will be entitled to receive all accrued, unpaid salary and vacation time through the date of termination and all benefits to which the CEO is entitled or vested under the terms of all employee benefit and compensation plans, agreements, and arrangements in which the CEO participants as of the date of termination.

In addition, subject to executing a general release in favor of the Company, the CEO will be entitled to receive certain severance payments in the event his employment is terminated by the Company “other than for cause” or by the CEO with “good reason.” These severance payments include: (i) a lump sum in cash equal to one to two times the CEO’s annual base salary; (ii) a lump sum in cash equal to one to two times the average annual bonus paid to the CEO for the prior two full fiscal years preceding the date of termination; (iii) a lump sum in cash equal to a pro rata portion of the annual bonus payable for the period in which the date of termination occurs based on the actual performance under the Company’s annual incentive bonus arrangement, but no less than fifty percent of the CEO’s annual base salary; and (iv) if the CEO’s termination occurs prior to the date that is twelve months following a change of control, then each and every share option, restricted share award and other equity-based award that is outstanding and held by the CEO shall immediately vest and become exercisable.

On April 1, 2020, the Company eliminated the position of Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) and relieved the COO of his duties pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement. In addition to payment of accrued and unpaid salary, vacation time, and other benefits referred to above, the Company is required to pay the former COO one time his contractual annual base salary of $245, payable over 12 months.

Litigation

From time to time, the Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company expenses or accrues legal costs as incurred and is involved in only one material legal proceeding as of the date of this Report.

In November 2011, the Company delivered equipment to Aker Solutions, Inc. (“Aker”), but Aker declined to pay the final invoice in the aggregate amount of $270 alleging some warranty items needed to be repaired. The Company made repairs, but Aker continued to claim further work was required. The Company repeatedly attempted to collect on the receivable and ultimately filed suit on November 16, 2012, in the Harris County District Court. Aker subsequently filed a counter claim on March 20, 2013 in the aggregate amount of $1,000 for reimbursement of insurance payments allegedly made for repairs. The parties have not reached a resolution on this matter. At this point, it is not clear as to whether an unfavorable outcome is either probable or remote, and the Company is unable to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or the amount or range of potential loss if the outcome should be unfavorable.

On August 6, 2018, GE Oil and Gas UK Ltd. (“GE”) requested that the Company mediate a dispute between the parties in the ICC International Centre for ADR (“ICC”). The dispute involved alleged delays and defects in products manufactured by the Company for GE dating back to 2013. During the second quarter of 2020, the parties finalized the terms of a definitive settlement agreement which is now final and binding. Per the terms of the settlement, the Company shall pay GE $750 in total, which shall be paid on a monthly basis through December 2021. The Company accrued a liability related to this matter in the amount of $750 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The remaining liability was $270 at March 31, 2021.